Adjustable blanket

ABSTRACT

A blanket, comprising a main body including a cover and an insulating material contained within the cover, and at least one sleeve attached to a surface of the blanket, wherein a passage extends through the main body at an opening of the sleeve for enabling access into the sleeve through the blanket. The blanket further includes a drawstring attached to the main body, wherein the drawstring extends at least partially around a central portion of the main body. The blanket has a size to cover a person&#39;s body for warmth and comfort, the drawstring moves the adjustable blanket snugly closer around a person&#39;s body and the at least one sleeve retains warmth around an arm of the person when they reach through the blanket to pick up an object.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to co-pending United StatesProvisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 60/566,998 filed Apr. 30,2004, entitled “Couch Potato”, having a common applicant herewith andbeing incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures made herein relate generally to covering wrapspositioned over and around a person's body to keep the person warm andcomfortable and, more particularly, to a size adjustable blanket havingsleeves extending from the blanket to retain warmth around the arms of aperson reaching from inside the blanket to pick up an item outside ofthe blanket without otherwise disrupting the blanket from around theperson's body.

BACKGROUND

A number of different ways are available to keep a person warm andprotected from drafts and from exterior cold conditions associated withoutdoor activities. Well known body-warming products include blankets,ponchos, sleeping bags, snow suits and children's sleep-suits and thelike. For example, patents including U.S. Pat. No. D380,590; U.S. Pat.No. 4,507,805 and FR 2,446,622 refer to bag-like garments to be worn bypeople or used as sleeping bags for camping and related activities thatmay involve extended periods of time outdoors. During limited outdoorrecreational pursuits, such as watching a ballgame at a stadium, peopleuse blankets, seat cushions, and ponchos to shield themselves from coldweather. Patents including U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,723 and FR 2,483,760 areexemplary of these types of product.

People also use blankets and similar types of coverings for added warmthand comfort while relaxing indoors. While watching television, forexample, a person may establish a cozy viewing environment by wrappingthemselves in a blanket or a comforter, or throw cover while recliningcomfortably on a sofa. Such a condition can be very relaxing unlessthere is a need to pick up an object such as a remote control or programschedule lying outside the blanket. Retrieval of the desired objectinvolves raising a portion of the blanket and exposing an arm or hand tothe relatively cold conditions outside the blanket. In addition, theraising of the blanket introduces cooling drafts around the person'sbody. It is also possible for cooling drafts to creep under the blanketafter the person has attempted to tuck the blanket around his or herlimbs. The simple re-positioning of a limb can disrupt a conventionalblanket, causing a gap, between the cover and the sofa, which provides away for cool air to penetrate beneath the cover.

Therefore, a blanket that overcomes limitations, shortcomings and/ordrawbacks associated with conventional blankets, used as temporarycovers, would be useful, advantageous and novel.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of an adjustable blanket in accordance with the presentinvention alleviate the drawbacks described above with respect toconventional blankets and related heat insulating enclosures andclothing. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention allowa person to adopt a relaxed posture covered by a warm blanket thatincludes size adjustment for drawing the edges of the blanket around theperson's body and limbs. An adjustable blanket in accordance with thepresent invention provides the added benefit that allows freedom for theperson to reach from the inside to the outside of the blanket withoutdisturbing the snug fit of the blanket around himself or herself.

One object of the present invention is to provide a cover in the form ofa wrap or blanket that provides warmth to the user by maintaining bodyheat under the blanket. Useful warmth provided by a blanket inaccordance with the present invention allows a lower temperatureenvironment outside the blanket, which has the potential for reducinghome heating expenses.

Also, an object of the present invention is to allow a person, wrappedin an adjustable blanket according to the present invention, to reachthrough an opening in the blanket to retrieve objects lying outside theblanket while the blanket remains snugly wrapped around them. Oneembodiment of the present invention includes tubular covers as sleevesaccessible from inside the blanket. Retrieval of objects outside theblanket occurs with only the person's hands exposed to the surroundingenvironment. Essentially, the sleeves help the person to retain bodyheat while operating remote controls for audio/video components, forexample, or for enjoying a snack or beverage, while wrapped more snuglythan is possible with a regular blanket.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a sizeadjuster in a wrap comprising a blanket resembling a normal throwblanket that cinches relatively easily around a person's body. The sizeadjuster, in the form of a drawstring, operates to pull the edges of theblanket inwardly to cover a portion of a user's body that includesshoulders, legs and feet. Optimum positioning of an adjustable blanketaround the portion of the user's body may require raising of the user'sfeet to allow movement of the blanket to a “tucked in” position.

For convenience, an object of the present invention is to provide anadjustable blanket resembling a conventional blanket in size, weight andthickness by way of an embodiment about seven feet long, from about fourfeet to about five feet wide and about half an inch to about an inch inthickness. Size variation considers the needs of children and peoplefitting into the categories of small, medium and large. Otherconsiderations include the use and style of stain resistant, machinewashable, highly pliable materials appearing like normal throw coversthat have been selected, for example, to match living room or familyroom or children's playroom decor.

In yet another embodiment, an object of an adjustable blanket inaccordance with the present invention it to allow persons of limitedmobility to use the size adjuster to tuck themselves into a cozyblanket.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described in alternativeterms including cover, comforter, blanket, main body, and wrap and thelike, that have been further modified using descriptors such as throwand adjustable and the like. Such terms have been used interchangeablyin support of subject matter claimed herein. Accordingly, the presentinvention advantageously overcomes one or more adverse aspectsassociated with conventional throw covers used by persons for comfortand relaxation.

Turning now to specific aspects of the present invention, in at leastone embodiment the present invention provides a blanket, comprising amain body including a cover and an insulating material contained withinthe cover. At least one sleeve has attachment to a surface of theblanket such that a passage extends through the main body at an openingof the sleeve for enabling access into the sleeve through the blanket.

Having described the basic construction of an adjustable blanket inaccordance with the present invention, the inclusion of additionalfeatures results in a variety of optional useful embodiments as follows:

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, an adjustableblanket further comprises a drawstring attached to the main body toextend at least partially around a central portion of the main body.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a peripheralchannel extends at least partially along the central portion of the mainbody to accommodate the drawstring slidably disposed therein.

At least one embodiment of the present invention has a plurality ofloops disposed within the peripheral channel, wherein the drawstring isthreaded through at least a portion of the loops.

In at least one embodiment of the blanket of the present invention, themain body includes a pouch and at least one sleeve is attached to thepouch such that the passage extends through the pouch for enablingaccess into the sleeve through the pouch of the blanket. The at leastone sleeve is retractable into the pouch for facilitating storage of theat least one sleeve.

A person wrapping themselves in a cover in accordance with the presentinvention is essentially using an adjustable wrap comprising a blankethaving an inner surface, an outer surface, and a peripheral channel. Theblanket further includes a pair of openings formed in the blanket toopen to the inner surface and the outer surface of the blanket that hasa shape and size to cover a person's body for warmth and comfort. Aplurality of loops attached to the blanket within the peripheral channelaccommodates a drawstring having a length contained in the peripheralchannel and threaded through the loops to adjust the size of the blanketduring variation in the length of the drawstring. The adjustable wrapalso has a pair of sleeves extending from the outer surface of theblanket. Each of the pair of sleeves is open at its opposing ends toprovide a passage from the inside surface of the blanket beyond theouter surface when an end of each of the pair of sleeves is attachedaround one of the openings of the blanket to provide warmth around eacharm of a person reaching from the inner surface, through the blanket andsleeves, to pick up an object.

These and other objects, embodiments advantages and/or distinctions ofthe present invention will become readily apparent upon further reviewof the following specification and associated drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail in the followingway of example only and with reference to the attached drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an adjustable blanket in accordancewith an embodiment of the inventive disclosures made herein.

FIG. 2 depicts a detail view of a portion of the means for adjustment ofthe size of the blanket of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a throw pillow cover in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention showing a storage compartment for afolded adjustable blanket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousand alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as abasis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching oneskilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Referring to the figures, wherein like numbers refer to like partsthroughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of anadjustable blanket 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the inventivedisclosure. The main body of the blanket comprises an insulatingmaterial made from woven and non-woven fabrics. Fibrous materialssuitable for manufacturing adjustable blankets 10 include conformable,supple materials including cotton, wool, polyester, and nylon andmixtures and blends thereof. In one embodiment the adjustable wrap orblanket 10 uses cotton or a blended fabric including cotton. Cotton is adurable material that adds quality and comfort to any product in whichit is used. A further benefit is the preference for the use of cottonfabrics by individuals with sensitive skin. In another embodiment theheat insulating properties of fleece, or wool derived from fleece, makethese materials attractive for blanket fabrication because of their softtexture and warmth.

Size variation of an adjustable blanket 10 in accordance with thepresent invention leads to other embodiments of the present invention.Taking into consideration the difference in size of blanket users, theproduction of adjustable blankets 10 would include the general sizes ofsmall, medium, and large. Material thickness is another variable chosento keep the product lightweight yet thick enough to keep the user warmand comfortable. These comfort criteria have been met using, forexample, a fabric thickness of about a half inch.

An adjustable blanket 10 in accordance with the present invention has apouch 12 attached to a surface of the main body. As shown in FIG. 1 thepouch 12 extends from what becomes the front or outer surface of ablanket 10 that is wrapped around a person for warmth. In thisembodiment, the pouch communicates with an opening (not shown) in themain body of the blanket 10 providing a recess from the back surface orinner surface of the blanket 10 into the pouch 12. At each of its ends,the recess, inside the pouch 12, opens to a sleeve 14, 16 made from thesame material or an alternative material as that selected for the mainbody of the blanket 10. The sleeves 14, 16 each provide a passage thatallows a person, wrapped in a blanket 10; to reach from the recess ofthe pouch 12, through the passages until the person's hands emerge fromthe ends of the sleeves 14, 16. Also, the pouch 12 provides storage forretractable sleeves 14, 16 when not in use. A cuff 18 at the end of asleeve 14, 16 may be gathered or have an elastic means included thereinproviding a relatively narrow opening that grips the wrist of a personwhose arm has been inserted in a sleeve 14, 16 so that the person's handextends from the cuff 18 of the sleeve 14, 16.

The pouch 12 and sleeves 14, 16 represent a distinguishing features ofthe present invention compared to conventional blankets in that theyallow a person to reach outside the blanket 10 without lifting the mainbody of the blanket 10. In this way, the person enjoys the warm comfortof the blanket and avoids cooling drafts that could creep under theblanket 10 when it moves. A further benefit of the sleeves 14, 16 is thewarmth they provide when covering the arms of a person reaching throughthem to easily and conveniently access nearby television, radio andvideo remote controls, reading material, phones and snacks and the likewithout having to remove the adjustable blanket 10 from their body. Oneof ordinary skill in the art will recognize that an embodiment accordingto the present invention is possible in which the pouch 12 has beenomitted from the adjustable blanket 10 so that the sleeves 14, 16 extendfrom two separated locations of the main body of the blanket 10.Blankets 10 have similar functionality, with or without the pouch 12illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show means for adjusting the size of a blanket 10 inaccordance with the present invention wherein the main body of theblanket 10 has at least a portion of a size adjuster 20 slidablyretained in a peripheral channel 22 formed adjacent to the edges 24, 26of two rectangular-shaped panels sewn together to form the main portionof the blanket 10. An alternative embodiment uses a single fabric panelhaving a peripheral channel attached thereto by stitching an overlyinglength of tape on to the fabric.

The size adjuster, shown in FIG. 2, is a drawstring 20 extending fromone end of the peripheral channel 22 to the other. Only a portion of thedrawstring 20 lies inside the peripheral channel 22 so that ends of thedrawstring (not shown) extend from a position inside the blanket 10allowing a user of the blanket 10 to tighten the drawstring 20,shortening the portion in the peripheral channel 22, to draw theadjustable blanket 10 fully around themselves, keeping them warm andcomfortable.

A drawstring 20, as shown in FIG. 2, passes through a series of loops 30sewn inside the peripheral channel 22 of the adjustable blanket 10. Theloops 30 guide the drawstring 20 through the peripheral channel 22 andprovide reinforced sections therein against which the drawstring 20pulls as it is cinched up to draw the blanket 10 closer therebyproviding a warm cozy cover around a person as they relax. Dependingupon the design of an adjustable blanket 10, loops 30 providingreinforced sections could be evenly spaced along the length of theperipheral channel 22 or limited to corners thereof.

Although the ends of the drawstring 20 have been described as locatedinside the adjustable blanket 10, other optional placement of thedrawstring ends is possible and includes positions inside and outside ofthe blanket 10 that the person using the blanket could reach from insidethe blanket. As shown in FIG. 1, the ends of the drawstring would extendinside the blanket from ends 32,34 of the peripheral channel 22, shownby dashed line, close to the shoulders of a person covered by theadjustable blanket 10. In other embodiments of an adjustable blanket 10in accordance with the present invention, the ends of the drawstringcould emerge from a peripheral channel 22 inside the recess of the pouch12 or from the front of the blanket 10 near the waist of the blanketuser. It will be appreciated that the ends of the drawstring 20 could beaccessible from other positions of the adjustable blanket 10 as long asthe other positions are relatively convenient from which to draw theblanket 10 around a user in response to the effort of pulling thedrawstring 20 to shorten the edges 24, 26 of the blanket 10 and reducethe portion of the drawstring 20 inside the peripheral channel 22.

FIG. 3 depicts a handy, stylish and machine-washable throw pillow cover40 as an accessory to an adjustable blanket 10 in accordance with thepresent invention. The throw pillow cover 40 includes a zipper 42 toretain the blanket 10 after placing it in the throw pillow cover 40.When zippered inside the throw pillow cover 40, the adjustable blanket10 acts as the filling for an attractive throw pillow that may be usedas a sofa decoration containing a readily available comforter 10.Suitable throw pillow covers 40 include those manufactured in a widevariety of materials, colors, prints, decorations, etc., to suitpersonal tastes and styles.

After withdrawing a comforter, in the form of an adjustable blanket 10from its throw pillow cover container 40 a user would simply drape theadjustable blanket 10 over themselves, like a traditional blanket. Usingthe drawstring, the user would draw the blanket 10 around body and limbsand thereby prevent the common and frustrating problem encountered withconventional blankets, which tend to gap inconveniently causing coolingof legs and feet that are closest to the edges of the conventionalblanket. Using an adjustable blanket 10 in accordance with the presentinvention, an individual would be snugly wrapped and warm andcomfortable while reading or watching television, helping to makerelaxing more relaxing.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown byway of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have beendescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understoodthat other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical,mechanical, chemical and electrical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the present invention. To avoidunnecessary detail, the description omits certain information known tothose skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is,therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forthherein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives,modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A blanket, comprising: a main body including a cover and aninsulating material contained within the cover; and at least one sleeveattached to a surface of the blanket, wherein a passage extends throughthe main body at an opening of the sleeve for enabling access into thesleeve through the blanket.
 2. The blanket of claim 1, furthercomprising: a drawstring attached to the main body, wherein thedrawstring extends at least partially around a central portion of themain body.
 3. The blanket of claim 2 wherein: the main body includes aperipheral channel extending at least partially along the centralportion of the main body; and the drawstring is slidably disposed withinthe peripheral channel.
 4. The blanket of claim 3, further comprising: aplurality of loops disposed within the peripheral channel, wherein thedrawstring is threaded through at least a portion of the loops.
 5. Theblanket of claim 1 wherein: the main body includes a pouch; the at leastone sleeve is attached to the pouch; the passage extends through thepouch for enabling access into the sleeve through the pouch of theblanket; and the at least one sleeve is retractable into the pouch forfacilitating storage of the at least one sleeve.
 6. The blanket of claim5, further comprising: a drawstring attached to the main body; and aplurality of loops; wherein the main body includes a peripheral channelextending at least partially along the central portion of the main body;wherein the drawstring is slidably disposed within the peripheralchannel; wherein at least a portion of the plurality of loops aredisposed within the peripheral channel; and wherein the drawstring isthreaded through the loops disposed in the peripheral channel.
 7. Anadjustable wrap comprising: a blanket including a size adjuster; and atleast one tubular cover attached to a surface of the blanket.
 8. Theadjustable wrap of claim 7, further comprising: a peripheral channel tocontain the size adjuster.
 9. The adjustable wrap of claim 8, whereinthe size adjuster is a drawstring.
 10. The adjustable wrap of claim 9,further comprising a plurality of loops attached to the blanket, whereinthe drawstring is threaded through the loops.
 11. The adjustable wrap ofclaim 7, wherein the blanket has an opening therethrough for access tothe at least one tubular cover that is open at opposing ends thereof.12. The adjustable wrap of claim 7, wherein the blanket has a size tocover a person's body for warmth and comfort, the size adjuster movesthe blanket snugly closer around the body and the at least one tubularcover retains warmth around an arm of a person reaching through theblanket to pick up an object:
 13. The adjustable wrap of claim 12,wherein the at least one tubular cover includes a pair of sleevesproviding protection for both arms and freedom of movement for the handsof the person during retrieval of objects outside the blanket.
 14. Anadjustable wrap comprising: a blanket having an inner surface, an outersurface, and a peripheral channel, the blanket further including a pairof openings formed in the blanket to open to the inner surface and theouter surface, the blanket having a shape and size to cover a person'sbody for warmth and comfort; a plurality of loops attached to theblanket within the peripheral channel; a drawstring having a lengthcontained in the peripheral channel and threaded through the loops toadjust the size of the blanket during variation in the length of thedrawstring; and a pair of sleeves extending from the outer surface ofthe blanket, each of the pair of sleeves being open at its opposing endsto provide a passage from the inside surface of the blanket beyond theouter surface when an end of each of the pair of sleeves is attachedaround one of the openings of the blanket to provide warmth around eacharm of a person reaching from the inner surface, through the blanket andsleeves, to pick up an object.